OMG. Am completely shocked. Need to share my horror.

[flowerybeanbag]

Apparently there is no legal provision for any maternity leave at all in Jersey. None. And apparently discrimination is also perfectly legal.

here Jersey equivalent of ACAS

Ex-colleague of DH has recently started at an international professional services firm, which also has an office in London, is pregnant and has found the only thing she can do is appeal to her employers better nature and hope they will let her have some unpaid leave.

Apparently employers in Jersey are 'encouraged' to make some provision for pregnant employees and are also encouraged to have an anti-discrimination policy, but are not legally obliged to at present and many don't.

Am utterly shocked. Is this not the developed world in the 21st century?

Switzerland too, till last year.

Any wonder these places are tax havens? They don't want to place any "social charges" on employers...

Just remind yourself, there IS a reason you pay tax. So you can live somewhere sensible...

I live in Jersey, and yes, the maternity leave is crap (only 18 weeks) and the policies do not look at the best interests of babies and their Mums. Great place in lots of ways - very safe, low unemployment, lovely environment, but can be difficult to afford decent housing and cost of living is high too.

That was my feeling, margoandjerry. But feel v sorry for the lady in question - you'd hardly think to check, when starting work in Jersey "hmm, does this island have a maternity policy similar to the rest of the UK?".

I've always wondered about NHS services in Jersey. Do they have them?

Indeed.
Was just naively assuming that although same laws don't apply as here, there would be an equivalent with similar provision, as there is in Northern Ireland.
And would also hope that big international employers would not exploit this and treat employees who happen to be based in Jersey rather than London so appallingly.

yes tribpot DH's ex-colleague did not check, did not occur to her that there would be no provision at all. You just take these things for granted don't you?
Definitely would be interesting to hear about NHS employees there...

We have a pretty good health service here, though you have to pay for the doctors, unless you are very very skint and then you get it free. Health services generally are very good though - get seen and treated generally very quickly I think.

Ellie it is not the NHS then I assume? Something different?
Anyone work for the health service in Jersey, do you have an anti-discrimination policy/any maternity leave?

Its similar to the NHS. Its paid for by taxes, and we have a private sector. We pay for Dr visits and prescriptions but its not a huge sum so I think it is subsidised to a degree

sorry, my post sounded a bit "You've made your bed - now lie in it"!!!

Didn't mean that at all and fully agree that it's crap.

lol margo no worries

Would normally advocate checking these things prior to commencing employment myself, but I don't think anyone would assume a bed would actually be that uncomfortable however lax they were in checking how well it was made!

Have now discovered that firm in question were recently named 'overseas firm of the year' by the appropriate London-based industry publication.

I work for health service and we do have policies for those yes, though we don't get as much maternity leave as in England. I think most jobs are same.